TheBuzz
TheBuzz
After shopping around for a new location, officials at the Ward Avenue TGIFriday's have signed a new long-term lease for its current space. Friday’s staying;
Row remodelingIn this case, long-term is 15 years, according to TGIFriday's Regional Manager Kevin Waugh. "We try to do a 10- to 15-year lease," he said, "with options and all that stuff."
TGIFriday's first opened on Ward Avenue in January 1980, Waugh said.
"They have a very loyal clientele from all the surrounding buildings and (Straub) hospital, which frequent them on a very regular basis," said Colliers Monroe Friedlander Inc. Chief Executive Andrew Friedlander.
The company manages and leases the building at 950 Ward Ave. which also houses The Honolulu Club. Additionally, the eatery draws customers from the many events at the neighboring Blaisdell Center.
Oahu's other TGIFriday's is at 2058 Kuhio Ave., in the Ohana Maile Sky Court Hotel, and several years remain on that lease, according to Waugh.
Pukas to stay at The Row
Restaurant Row's empty spaces may fill up relatively soon, but not with clients.At least some space will be used as staging and storage areas for what Friedlander called, "a very significant remodel -- plans are being worked on by Group 70 as we speak," he said.
"We have removed the emphasis on the leasing activity of the plaza," Friedlander said, "because we want the disruption to be as minimal as possible."
There is no target date for the remodel because even after the plans are final, the project must still receive approvals from the city and the Hawaii Community Development Authority, since the property is in Kakaako.
"I don't expect any problems at all," Friedlander said. "HCDA is incredibly helpful to work with, they are proactive."
As for approvals at the city government level, "the mayor has done a really good job in many areas, including helping getting things done in a fairly rapid manner as far as permitting is concerned. It's vastly improved," he said. Friedlander also likes the changes made in Waikiki, telling of a walk he and his wife took there early in the morning on a recent holiday.
"We walked around Waikiki for maybe two hours and we were both so impressed with the fabulous job that's been done there. Unless we all go down there and see it we won't have an understanding of how user-friendly it has become."
The time of day and the fact that "I went at 6 o'clock in the morning and parking was not a big issue."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com